Designing Gwent Solo: An Interview with Martin Montreuil

In our last blog post, we introduced Gwent Solo Mode which has some rule and ability changes that probably made some of you wonder, why? In today's blog post, we bring you some game design answers! We sat down with the designer of Solo Mode, Martin Montreuil, to learn about the process of bringing The Continent's favorite game to life as a single-player experience on tabletop.

Martin Montreuil is an aficionado of board games, host of La société des jeux on YouTube and De l'autre côté du plateau podcast.

Could you share your process of adapting the digital playing Gwent experience into a single-player card game for tabletop?

Martin: It was really important to create the most authentic experience possible for players who loved Gwent in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Fortunately, Gwent was already designed as a proper card game within the video game and it’s a single-player experience there. Designing a solo mode for tabletop didn’t require a major overhaul, just some adjustments to make it work without a computer or second player.

How did you decide what modifications to make for rules and gameplay?

Martin: Lots of trial and error. In solo mode, we want to minimize the amount of decisions players make on behalf of the opponent while keeping the game engaging. With that in mind, I sat down and played Gwent, changing one rule at a time to test how it affected the flow of the game. After comparing every possible outcome on each card, I chose the modifications that enable solo players to experience a similar challenge to a standard duel.

For example, part of the fun in Gwent is the element of surprise when your opponent’s next move is revealed. Solo mode captures this by revealing certain cards at the end of a round which can deliver a shocking fatal blow (see Ability Clarifications and Leader Variants).

What do you like about playing Gwent solo?

Martin: Solo playing was my entryway into tabletop gaming from video gaming, so I have a soft spot for it. Playing solo makes it easy to pick up a game, because I can play it anytime I want. The set-up for Gwent is relatively simple so I can set it up quickly on the table and start playing pretty fast.

Plus, playing in solo mode allows me to play at my own speed and slow down when I want. When I play, I like to consider the different moves and weigh them out in my head. I can take my time, analyze each move, and anticipate the opponent’s responses without the pressure of another player. It’s a different kind of challenge with solo mode. You’re not just outplaying another person, but mastering the game itself.

Do you have any advice for players who might find solo mode too difficult?

Martin: If you feel it’s too difficult, it’s a good sign! You have the chance to learn something every time you play Gwent. After every game, you become a better player with stronger card playing strategies. In Gwent it’s also sometimes a matter of luck, so keep at it! You might get a better hand next time through luck of the draw. A game of Gwent can be pretty short, so you can easily keep playing and eventually there will be a balance between your number of victories and defeats.

In your opinion, what makes Gwent such a special game?

Martin: There’s a lot of cross-overs between tabletop games and video games, where we see either a video game being made into a tabletop game or a tabletop game being added into a video game. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was no exception and I think Gwent is able to hold its own weight because it encapsulates so much of The Witcher universe. If you love the world of The Witcher, you’re probably going to like Gwent. 

It’s also very hard to get bored of playing Gwent. There’s an interesting asymmetry brought on by factions having their own play style and unique powers. Every time you play, depending which faction you’re playing as and which one you’re opposing, is inevitably going to be different. When we love a game, we want to keep playing it and get better at it. Gwent understands this and gives its players various challenges to try and beat every time we come back to the game.

Got more questions for Martin or want to hear him talk about board games? Follow him at @lasocietedesjeux on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to his podcast De l’autre côté du plateau wherever you get your podcasts.